The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has appealed to the Nigerian Army to be considerate and show mercy to innocent civilians. He said this reaction to reports that the Nigerian Army invaded and burnt down several houses in Okuama Community, where 16 soldiers, including a commander, were killed by youths.
The former governor noted in a tweet that the attack carried out in the community can’t repay for the lost soldiers, and innocent civilians might be affected. He also urged them to instead fish out the criminals behind the attack.
Part of his tweet reads; “Earlier today, I added my voice to that of other Nigerians in condemning, in the strongest terms, the mindless killing of security personnel who were on a peacekeeping mission in a community in Delta state. The act remains censured and accursed by all right thinking Nigerians. However, the emerging disturbing reports of the community being under arson attack is equally unpalatable and wrongheaded.
“In all situations, two wrongs cannot produce a right. Reprisal arson attacks on the community cannot compensate for the original wrong of the killing of the soldiers. It is most likely that innocent lives will be lost in these reprisal attacks and innocent citizens, who had no hand in the ugly crimes, may be rendered homeless by the unwanted destruction of the community. The correct and civilized thing to do is to put all, machinery in place to apprehend the real perpetrators of the original ignoble act and bring them to book.
“As painful as the act may be, I appeal to the security agencies to be considerate and avoid transferring their anger to hapless members of the community. I have also learned that the Government of Delta State, had been on top of this situation before it escalated. I urge the Governor not to relent but to put in more effort to ensure minimal damage. In this regard, he needs the involvement of all community leaders to calm the nerves.”
